Results 3,501-3,520 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will reflect on the amendments that have been tabled. I want to be honest with the members as well, as I said, around Government policy. I will make the point that there is an impression garnered about this. The Defence Forces representative associations, to be fair to them, will try to extend. This is progress for them, insofar as it statutorily provides for association with ICTU....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: On commentary, we have never had a situation in this history of the State where individual members of the Defence Forces comment as members of the Defence Forces on public policy, Government policy or, indeed, political matters generally.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, shall not "encourage members".

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I referred to Defence Force DFR S.6. On communication with media, etc., where there is a whole section dealing with communication with the media, the regulations state "No public statement or comment concerning political matters shall be made by the Association". As it is, it is quite restrictive.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Let us take international relations.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is no less important.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is a political matter. It is a matter of potential public controversy, for example, Ukraine or the Middle East. Our Defence Forces can be there as peacekeepers in any given scenario in the future, in Africa, in Sahel or wherever. What if public commentary is made, if protests are happening on those political matters, and people are taking positions on them? How does that colour host...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying that. I am making the point.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Does the Deputy not see there is merit in what I am saying-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----that there is a need for caution here in the degree to which one allows for excessive latitude around this because it could subsequently compromise actions and roles of the Defence Forces?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We know that in domestic politics, people are very concerned about a range of international affairs, and rightly so. That is a part of it. We encourage our people to have a global outlook, a European outlook, etc. If people see a defence force or a significant number taking a position, that could subsequently compromise our engagement in certain theatres where we may be required for...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Can I come back to the Deputies on it?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have a small country. That is fine.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would have to check whether it is in primary legislation, but there are very clear codes of conduct. The Deputy knows this himself, as a veteran of politics at this stage. If a public servant is above a certain grade in a local authority, they cannot even run in politics, and that is as a civilian. Otherwise, they have to resign.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: No, I am talking about public agitation and protest.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, the members. Every member of the Defence Forces is by definition more or less a member of PDFORRA and listed. My point is that the Bill is endeavouring to avoid a situation where a widespread campaign urged people to go and talk to every single TD in a constituency and so on. That is a new and dangerous line that we need to think through carefully before going down that road or we are...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Changes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will take on board what has been said here and come back with a further amendment.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 6: In page 11, to delete lines 1 to 10 and substitute the following: "(a) in subsection (1), by the insertion of "subject to subsection (1A)," after "the person's commanding officer or,", and (b) by the insertion of the following subsection after subsection (1): “(1A) The Chief of Staff may, where the circumstances so require— (a) appoint an...